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The playoff lasted one hole. Fowler made sure of that. The kid has never been afraid to put it all on the line.
There was the thrill-seeking passion for motocross as a teenager, the panache for head-turning clothing he brought to the PGA Tour as a rookie. With his best chance to break through for his first American win, Fowler showed his true colors.
"I didn't want to play it safe," Fowler said. "I had a good number (133 yards), and I was aiming right of the hole with the wind coming out of the right, and if I hit a perfect shot, it comes down right on the stick. ... I hit a perfect shot at the right time, and I was going for it."
For a guy under increasing pressure to win, Fowler kept his cool even after he won. He clenched his fist and smiled. The only time he came close to getting emotional is when thinking about his coach, Barry McConnell, who died last year. It was McConnell who helped Fowler fashion a homemade swing on a practice range in Temecula, Calif., when Fowler was not on a motorcycle.
"It's a good feeling right now," Fowler said. "Definitely some relief, satisfaction. I'm definitely happy. It's not a bad thing, winning. It's kind of fun."
The three players finished at 14-under 274. Fowler's main goal this year was to win, and that gives him a big step toward two other goals -- getting to the Tour Championship for the first time in the FedEx Cup playoffs, and perhaps being part of another Ryder Cup team.
He was the first PGA Tour rookie to ever be picked for the Ryder Cup in Wales two years ago, and while it wasn't his best week, he showed his promise in singles when he won the last four holes against Edoardo Molinari to earn a half-point, which nearly was enough to give the Americans a win.
Even so, he didn't win. Fowler got his first win as a pro last fall at the Korean Open. It wasn't a strong field, but he beat McIlroy.
Both are 23. Both play with energy and exuberance. There is a generational shift in golf, and they are a big part of it. Perhaps it is too soon for a rivalry. Fowler, after all, only has one PGA Tour title. McIlroy is a U.S. Open champion who returned to No. 1 in the world with the playoff loss.
This might be the first chapter.
"I think it was just a matter of time before he won," McIlroy said. "It seems like this tournament produces first-time winners -- Anthony Kim, myself, now Rickie. It's great to see. He probably has went through a little bit of scrutiny and a lot of pressure trying to get that first win. But now that win is out of the way. Hopefully, that will ease the pressure a little bit."
[Associated Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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